Gate-latch



f (No Model.)

'1. JOYNER.

' GATE LATCH. No. 261,356. Patented July 18, 1882 WITNESSES:- v I W a? M 444W I I B ATTORNEYS.

INVENTOR U ITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC JOYNER, OF JONESBOROTIGH, MISSISSIPPI.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,356, dated July I8, 1882, I Application tiled December 30, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Isaac JOYNER, of Jonesborough, in the county of Tippah and State of Mississippi, haveinvented a new and'Im proved Gate-Latch, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an. efiective gate-latch ot' simplified construction; and to this end my invention consists of a bifurcated bar of elastic wood adapted to be secured to the gate, the parts ot'said bar being adapted, when the gate is closed, to engagein notches formed upon both sides of a pointed head or catch secured in proper position to the gate-post.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a gate having my improved latch secured to it. Fig. 2is a section taken on the line 00 m, and Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 y, of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, B represents the post to which the gate A is hinged, and 0 represents the post to which the gate is latched. The post 0 is provided with the harpoon-shaped catch a, which holds the gate closed; and D represents the latch, which is formed of a bifurcated strip of any elastic wood, which strip is secured at one end to the gate, as shown in Fig. 1,the other end of the latch being placed in the cleat E, which is secured upon the post F of the gate. The latch is so placed upon the gate, that the ends of the parts (1 61 thereof will reach through the cleat and past the post F, so as to come against the post 0 when the gate is closed, and engage with the harpoonshaped catch or head a, as shown in Fig. l, the catch being so placed upon the post that the point thereof will pass between the said parts of the latch and cause them to spread sufficiently, so that when the parts come against the post 0 the elasticity of the wood will cause the parts 61 d to drop behind the shoulders of the catch or head, and thus retain the gate.

In order to open the gate, I provide the gate with the tint key G, which is journaled in the block g, secured to one side of the gate, as shown in Fig. 3. This key is of such size and form that when it is turned to such position that its greatest width stands vertical, as shown in Fig. 3, the parts or prongs of the latch will be spread-apart, so as to disengage the shoulders of the catch a, and thus permit the gate to be opened. When the key is given from this position one-quarter of a turn in either direction the size and form of it are such that the prongs of the latch'are leftin their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 1, ready to engage with the catch again.

A gate-latch thus constructedis simple, inexpensive, and secure, and stock will not be able to open it.

Having thus fully described |nyinvention,1 claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patcnt Thelatch for gates, constructed substantially as herein shown and described, consisting of the bifurcated latch D, secured to the gate at one end and passing through the cheat 

